CLEVELAND -- It's been a whirlwind week for Orioles rookie Cedric Mullins. And on Friday in Cleveland, the 23-year-old saw his name atop the O's order for the first time. He also got a special visit pregame from Indians great and leadoff hitter extraordinaire Kenny Lofton.
"It's a good spot for him," manager Buck Showalter said. "And I thought he might spend some time with Kenny Lofton today."
Jokes aside, Lofton -- who was teammates with current Baltimore first-base coach Wayne Kirby for several years -- was a terrific leadoff hitter in his own right. And it was evident the visit was a cool moment for Mullins.
"You could tell he would have stayed there all day," Showalter said "Cedric, he takes it in."
Mullins, who became the first Orioles rookie to record three hits in his big league debut on Aug. 10, enters the weekend series against the Indians with eight hits in his first 20 at-bats. The youngster, who has enviable speed and has taken over the role of everyday center fielder, will now take on more responsibility on the offensive side of things.
"He's got a chance to be [a good leadoff hitter]. There's a lot of roads to cross," Showalter said. "You could read four or five different reports of what everybody says he's going to become. I just want to know they are going to be what they can be, and I feel comfortable Cedric will be what he can be. He's got a lot of the old-school characteristics you look for in leadoff hitters."